Young Feminist Network Living Resource Library
In the spring of 2022, we decided to host a power-building, skills-sharing, soul-feeding, movement tending workshop series, dedicated to our Young Feminist Network members. We invited both emerging and established leaders and activists to create videos exploring topics of spirituality, theology, art, and movement-building. We are proud to make them available to all WOC supporters on this page, and encourage you to engage with this meaningful, thoughtfully curated content.
The Ministry of Irritation
What we call the Ministry of Irritation is the ministry that most people associate with the Women’s Ordination Conference – it is our work of prayerful witness, creative resistance, prophetic persistence, and basically making a bit of noise, when the hierarchy would otherwise try to silence us. We’ve asked some established WOC activists and “irritators” to help us tell the story of the Ministry of Irritation.
Exploring the Examen by Susan Haarman
Bio: Susan Haarman (she/her) is the associate director at Loyola University Chicago’s Center for Experiential Learning, facilitating faculty development and the service-learning program. In addition to having a Masters in Divinity, she also holds a Masters in Community Counseling, a certificate in directing the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises, and is currently in a doctoral program. Her research focuses on the intersection between social justice education, civic identity, and imagination. She is also an improviser & storyteller in Chicago.
Embodied Prayer by Luisely Melecio-Zambrano
Bio: Luisely Melecio-Zambrano accompanies women through life, death, and the cycles in between, as a spiritual director, midwife, speaker, dancer, facilitator of theater of the oppressed, and organizer. She finds life in holding space for Mystery and in witnessing the wonder of the Sacred embodied. To contact Luisely, visit her website.
Art and Prayer by Daniela M. Jiménez
Bio: Born and raised in Costa Rica, Dani (she/her) is a 20-year-old illustrator and writer. Everything started with a small Tumblr blog and a need for a community of like-minded Catholics that share the same values of social justice, queer inclusion and intersectional feminism. Now, she runs a small business on Etsy of her Catholic illustrations, where she tries to depict the Holy in a historically-aware manner.
Queering Complementarity by delfín w. bautista
Bio: mx. delfín w. bautista, MSW, MDiv. (they/them/elles) is a social worker, writer, activist theologian, and diversity educator. delfin has a Master in Divinity from Yale University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. A queer and trans Latinx diva of faith and spirit, delfín is passionate about intersectional justice and resilience, especially around the experiences of queer people of color. delfín currently serves as faculty for Campus Pride’s Advisor Academy, is on the Vision Council for Call To Action, is a member of Soulforce’s Board of Directors, and is a co-facilitator for Queer Christian Fellowship’s community groups.
Disability Theology by Allison Connelly-Vetter and Bekah Maren Anderson
Allison’s Bio: Allison Connelly-Vetter (she/her) received a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, where she studied interdisciplinary approaches to disability theology and Madness and wrote a capstone thesis on Christian ableism and restorative justice. She finds a spiritual home in both in lay-led, non-canonical catholic communities and in the United Church of Christ. Allison is a co-convener of the Disability Theology Discussion Group, a spiritual reflection space created by and for disabled, neurodivergent, Mad/mentally ill, and chronically ill folks. Allison and her wife, Brooklyn, live in Minneapolis, MN, where Allison is the Children, Youth, and Families Program Coordinator for Spirit of St. Stephen’s Catholic Community and a Faith Organizer for the Center for Sustainable Justice.
Bekah’s Bio: Bekah Maren Anderson (she/her) is a queer disabled writer, theologian, and activist. She has been writing and speaking about disability Ministry and Theology since 2016, earned her master of divinity from Union Theological Seminary in 2021, and currently serves as co-chair for the United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries Board of Directors. When not trapped in her inescapable desk, she can usually be found playing Dungeons and Dragons.
Black is Blessed: The Art of Laura James
Bio: Laura James (she/her) is a self-taught painter and illustrator of Antiguan heritage. James was delighted to illustrate The Book of the Gospels lectionary, published by Liturgy Training Publications in 2000; the book is used worldwide by numerous Christian denominations and her religious art is at the forefront of the movement toward a more inclusive representation of Biblical figures. In her talk, Ms. James will speak about her work and how it relates to social justice and liberation theology, and recent projects aimed at reimaging sacred texts to reflect their true meaning.
A Womanist Approach to Preaching by Irie Lynne Session
Bio: Rev. Dr. Irie Lynne Session (she/her), an award-winning minister, pastor, author, TEDX Presenter, Spiritual Entrepreneur, and Womanist practitioner, was born in Hawkins, Texas and raised in New York City Housing Projects. She’s a Church Planter and Co-Pastor ofThe Gathering, A Womanist Church of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Dallas, Texas, and former President of the National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Dr. Irie has been a pastor for 16 years and was ordained in 2007.
Social Media Strategy by Luna Ly
Bio: Luna is the Social Media Manager for UltraViolet and is passionate about revolutionizing the way we engage online, reclaiming digital autonomy, and considering the impact of digital communications. They are on a lifelong journey of learning and reflecting on how they show up in their work and with communities in the fight for justice and liberation while volunteering with the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) DC Chapter. Luna has a Masters of Public Health in Public Health Policy and Management from George Washington University, is an Alexander Hamilton Scholar, and avid reader. She enjoys being weird on social media, writing long sentences, and learning how to jam on the bass guitar. Luna uses any and all pronouns.
Engaging with the Media by Ashley Wilson
Bio: Ashley Wilson (she/her) is the Director of Communications & Strategy at Catholics for Choice. Ashley has a decade of experience organizing people of faith on issue campaigns related to tax justice, health care, ending endless war, and more. Before joining Catholics for Choice, Ashley was the Grasstops Advocacy Manager at the Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quakers) and the Communications Manager for NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice. She has traveled around the country with a pack of nuns as an organizer of five of NETWORK’s signature “Nuns on the Bus” trips.